Tape coil clip



NW. T19, 1935.. w. H. PAGENKOPF TAPE COIL CLIP Filed Feb. 28, 1934 INVENTOR WALTER H. PAGE/V/VOPF Vfi W' ATTOR EY Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES FEIQE PATENT TAPE con. CLIP tion of Delaware Application February 28, 1934, Serial No. 713,272

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in conjunctive clips and more particularly to metallic clips for holding securely the coils of a roll of tape. 7

In the control of certain telegraphic devices including telegraph transmitters and linecasting machine control units, a perforated tape is employed as a means for storing control signals for controlling their respective operations. These tapes are usually provided with a longitudinally extending central roll of small perforations through engagement with which a tape sensing mechanism is enabled to feed the tape progressively step by step. The code perforations are inserted in a transverse direction to the feed perforations and ordinarily occupy the entire surface area of the tape. Thus, because nearly the entire surface area of the tape is subject to receiving perforations, there remains but little area to be utilized for collateral purposes such as to be engaged by clamping devices for holding convolutions of the tape in suitable condition to permit handling.

In the preparation of record bearing material of the aforedescribed class, the ribbon stock is usually obtained from a large roll of paper web after which the stock is fed through a perforating machine where the'feed and code perforations are installed. After the perforations are installed, the material is detached from the blank stock in accordance with the information contained thereon and frequently comprises small rolls varying in size. In storing the prepared rolls of control form and in transporting them considerable difficulty has been experienced in packaging or suitably confining them during transit.

Accordingly a main object of the present invention is to provide a simple, effective, and durable device that may be quickly and easily applied upon a roll of paper tape for securely holding together the several convolutions thereof and for confining its convolutions and the loose end portions.

In accordance with one structure embodying the principles of the present invention there is formed from a single length of spring wire a clip structure of E-shaped configuration. The object to be secured or held is passed between the tines or arms of the clip alternately and because the clip is spring tensioned in a manner opposed to that in which the object is threaded between its tines, the result obtained is an even and parallel application of pressure which prevents unravelling of the object; in this case the coil of tape. To prevent the lateral displacement of the convolutions of the coil of tape, the arms or tines are provided with lugs which in cooperation with the transverse element of the clip structure straddle the edge surfaces of the coil. This keeps the convolutions in alignment and also prevents I the inadvertent displacement or removal of the clip when applied to a coil.

For a better understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters 10 designate corresponding parts throughout and in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coil of record bearing material such as the perforated tape used for the automatic control of linecasting 15 machines and record reading devices generally. This figure illustrates how an operator may with one hand hold the coil of record bearing material and with the other grasp a clip constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a subsequent condition when the operator has sprung the clip into position for embracing the coil with portions of the clip partially encompassing the coil;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the clip member in solid outline and illustrates in dotted outline a fragmentary portion of a coil with the clip member after being applied thereto, and 30 Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the clip member illustrating its simplicity of formation.

In the accompanying drawing the reference character ll indicates generally a clip formed of a single piece of spring wire and shaped to 3'5 resemble somewhat the alphabetical character E lying on its side. The clip it, may therefore be understood as having three arms a central one i2 of which is formed of two vertically extending elements is, having a joining portion I 4 which 4 is bent backward to provide a lip or lug, as better illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The outer arms i5 are preferably made up of single wire elements and are likewise provided at their upper extremities with overhanging lip sections I6 formed 5 by looping the ends of the wire elements in horizontal alignment with the lip H but bent in an opposite direction thereto. A pair of horizontally disposed connecting elements I? extend each from one of the outer arms l5 to its adjacent one 50 of the two central elements I3.

Thus it will be noted that the clip member I I may be formed of a single piece of wire shaped to assume normally a condition as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 in solid lines but provided with the 55 requisite resilient properties to be capable of being bent to assume a position illustrated in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3 in dotted lines. Though the clip is formed of a single piece of spring wire which, presumably, is homogeneous in its resilient characteristics, the construction of the clip is such that no appreciable distortion of its several elements need result during the manipulation in applying upon and in removal from a tape coil. This is true because the force applied in changing the shape of the clip from that illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 3 to that illustrated in broken lines in the same figure results in a torsion that is absorbed almost entirely by the vertically extending elements it, a slight yield by the adjacent portions of the central lip Hi, and practically no change in the connecting elements IT.

The member is so shaped and proportioned as to lend itself to being grasped in one hand between the thumb on one side the index and middle fingers on the other and to be manipulated between these three digits as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 where, by depressing the thumb between the two aforementioned fingers, the outer arms l5 are withdrawn. or brought back while the central arm 52 is pushed forward, reversing the normal position of the clip ii sufficiently to permit the convolutions of a coil if! to be passed therebetween. In so doing, the lips l4 and it encounter the convolutions of the coil i8 therebetween, but after the clip member I! has been forced upwardly the entire distance, the lips l4 and 55- clear the convolutions of coil 43 and present themselves to overlie the opposite edges of the coil, thereby completely surrounding the four surfaces which comprise a cross-section through the coil. In seeking to resume the normal position, the central arm or element I2 is forced in a direction opposite to that of the elements 55 and in this manner the several convolutions of the coil l8 are held firmly together not only as against unraveling, but since with the aid of the lip elements M and Iii all four of the surfaces of a cross-section of the coil are embraced, the several of the convolutions are also held against lateral displacement.

It should be noted that by means of this simple clip structure there is provided a device that may be quickly and easily applied to a coil is with one hand while yet affording a securing means that may be just as easily removed and used over again repeatedly for the same or other coils. The adaptability of the clip H is such that it may be employed with equal eifectiveness upon coils of greater or fewer convolutions as well as with those of larger or smaller transverse cross-sections. The shape of the clip H and its general proportions vary generally with the dimensions of the coils or other objects to be secured. It should be noted also that the clip, when ap plied to a coil of tape, closely defines the outlines thereof so that it does not occupy any appreciable space beyond that occupied by the coil itself.

This feature is of particular importance in the storing or packaging of pluralities of coils, since it permits of parallel stacking whereas otherwise or with a securing element that is unduly bulky or protruding, this advantage could not likely be ob- 5 tained.

While the present invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it will be evident, nevertheless, that numerous modifications and variations may 1 be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. For this reason it is not intended to be limited to the specific language of the foregoing specification nor to any of the details of the accompanying illustrations except as indi- 1 cated by the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A clip comprising a member formed of a single wire for embracing a plurality of convolutions of a coil including a primary vertical 2 element to be presented on one side of said convolutions comprised of a pair of contiguous lengths of said wire connected by an arched secti doubled proximateiy so as to provide an in flexible span, two secondary vertical elements to 2 be presented in opposition to said primary element, a pair of connectin elements for associating said secondary vertical elements with said primary v'ertical element, said wire having resilient characteristics for affording torsional 3 elasticity to said contiguous lengths and for urging said primary and secondary elements in opposite directions, all of said elements presenting a closely defining structure about said convolutions so as not to increase substantially the over- 3 all dimensions thereof, eyelet portions formed integrally with and extended perpendicularly to said secondary vertical eienents.

2. In a clip for embracing a plurality of convolutions of ribbon material affording four sur- 4 faces, an integral structure formed of fine wire stock for embracing and surrounding said surfaces comprising eyelet portions for overlying one of said surfaces, an element connecting with said eyelet portions for overlying a next adjacent 4 surface, secondary elements connecting with said first mentioned element for overlying the next adjacent surface and opposite said eyelet portions, and tertiary elements connecting with said secondary elements for overlying next adjacent 5 surfaces and opposite said first mentioned ele ments.

3. A paper clamping device comprising a central element, a pair of outer elements, means perpendicular to said elements for connecting said 5 central element to said outer elements, and cooperating lug portions associated with each of said elements for completing the enclosure about the surfaces of an intermediately supported article and disposed in a plane substantially 6 parallel to a plane common to said means.

WALTER 7H. PAGENKOPF. 

